Battery Rack Fire Piping for Fast Smoke Detection and Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing energy storage systems lack effective fire extinguishing mechanisms that can quickly respond to events in battery racks, potentially leading to uncontrolled fires and damage.
Innovation Solution
The system incorporates a battery rack with a main pipe connected to fire extinguishing pipes on each battery module, a fire extinguishing agent tank, and a sensor. A one-way valve controls the flow of air and extinguishing agent, allowing the system to detect smoke and deliver the extinguishing agent only to the affected area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fire extinguishing system is added to the battery rack, then fire safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The one-way valve serves dual functions: allowing smoke to reach the sensor during normal operation and preventing fire extinguishing agent from leaking when not needed. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby adding fire safety without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing air suction mechanism to naturally draw smoke toward the sensor without requiring additional active components. The one-way valve automatically controls flow direction based on pressure differential, eliminating the need for complex control valves or actuators.
2Speed
If smoke detection is implemented using air suction through the main pipe, then detection speed is improved, but the risk of false detection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The one-way valve is strategically positioned at the end of the fire extinguishing pipe to create a localized flow control mechanism. This ensures that smoke from actual fire events is directed toward the sensor while preventing other air flows from causing false detections, thereby maintaining fast detection speed with improved accuracy.
3Loss of time
If the fire extinguishing agent is delivered through the main pipe to the fire extinguishing pipe, then response time is improved, but the risk of agent leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The one-way valve is pre-installed in the fire extinguishing pipe to prevent potential leakage of fire extinguishing agent before it can occur. By allowing flow in only one direction (from the main pipe toward the battery module), it eliminates the risk of backward leakage while maintaining rapid agent delivery when needed.
4Measurement precision
If the one-way valve allows air to pass freely, then smoke detection sensitivity is improved, but fire extinguishing agent control is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The one-way valve allows smoke particles to rapidly pass through to the sensor during detection, prioritizing detection sensitivity. When fire extinguishing agent flows in the opposite direction, the valve blocks it, providing reliable flow control. This asymmetric flow behavior resolves the contradiction between detection sensitivity and agent control.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables rapid detection of events in the battery rack and targeted delivery of the fire extinguishing agent, effectively extinguishing fires before they spread, thereby protecting the battery system and reducing damage.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor is configured to sense an event in the battery rack by sucking air from the main pipe
Implementation Method 2
The opening/closing plate may be configured to move in one direction corresponding to the direction of a fluid incident thereon
Data Source
AI summary
An energy storage system includes: a battery rack including a rack frame and a plurality of battery modules accommodated in the rack frame; a main pipe in the battery rack; and a fire extinguishing agent tank and sensor selectively connected to the main pipe. When the sensor and the main pipe are connected together, the sensor is configured to sense an event in the battery rack by sucking air from the main pipe.